On deck for Wednesday: The Italian government fires an entire city council for suspected ties with the mafia, the IMF lowers its global growth forecast, and the U.S. military reportedly gets more involved in the Syria crisis.

High Stakes — The Guardianreports that Germany is weighing up a plan for a eurozone banking union to end the debt crisis, as Spain pleads for an E.U. rescue of its beleaguered banks. “The plan could see vast national debt and …

Blame, Banks, and Bailouts – As it emerges that Spain’s foundering banks may soon need a bailout, the New York Times argues that the cost of this rescue would leave “little behind should investors turn on Italy next” and …

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny knows it’s good to look voters in the eyes. When that’s not possible, a nationally televised speech works just as well. On May 27, Kenny took to the airwaves and appealed to the debt-ridden nation …

During the four decades that pedophile priest Brendan Smyth abused children, he frequently took them on driving excursions across Ireland. Brendan Boland, one of his victims, began going on those trips in the early 1970s when he …

Given the catastrophic mantra rising in media reports and from certain pundits, one contrarian point needs to be made clear: democracy can’t and won’t kill the debt-stricken euro. As Europeans at the ballot box are …